17 signs someone is about to quit their job

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Most bosses are caught off guard when facing a mass employee exodus, and the same can happen when just one valued employee resigns.

"As the boss, it's important to watch for the symptoms of an impending departure so you can address the issues before it's too late," says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job." "Losing even one valued employee can disrupt your business, not to mention losing several team members. And if you're running a small company or startup, these losses can destroy your business."

Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of "The Humor Advantage," agrees. "Losing employees can create a substantial impact on everything from service delivery to scheduling. It can impact the culture in a team in a negative way. And there's a substantial cost and time commitment involved in replacing and training new employees, so the more time a manager has to prepare for the changes, the better."

Taylor and Kerr shared 17 signs that your employees are about to quit. They say these are the ones you should watch out for so you can act before it's too late:

There's a change in their appearance.

If they start dressing unusually sharply, it may be because they are slipping out to job interviews during or after work, says Kerr.

"Also, if someone is unhappy in their job, they may begin to dress down because they feel that no one is really paying attention anyway — or because they just don't really care anymore," adds Taylor.

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They start taking more time off.

They begin calling in sick more often, or using up their vacation days sporadically, which may mean they are feeling very disengaged at work, possibly even to the point of using the time off to search for other employment, says Kerr. "And using up their sick days and vacation time (and even getting a lot of dental work done suddenly) might be a red flag that they are getting ready to jump ship and want to make sure they max out any benefits they feel owed to them."

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They show a drop off in any interest in work.

Have you noticed that some of your employees have stopped offering suggestions or ideas at meetings, they offer little input into new projects, or seem suddenly disinterested in any of the broader details related to work?

"This can be a sign they've lost their mojo and no longer really care what happens down the road because they know they won't be there in the future," Kerr says.

They lack a sense of humor.

Employees who are about to bail may no longer joke around, says Taylor. "Their demeanor is more straightforward and factual versus friendly and lighthearted. Perhaps this is because they're less worried about appearing supportive or trying to impress anyone."

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You can read it in their body language and facial expressions.

Subtle clues might give hints that your employees are either disengaged or even feeling guilty because they've been job hunting and they know that they are not sticking around for the long run, Kerr explains.

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They seem distant.

Do you feel a sudden chill when you approach your staff? "The first few times, you chalk up to their having a bad day. Then you notice it among more team members ... more frequently," says Taylor. If this is the case, one or more employees may be preparing to leave.

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There's a noted change in attitude.

They may become more irritable, or they may make more sarcastic comments than normal about work-related issues, revealing a lack of fundamental belief in the direction the company is headed, says Kerr.

A sudden lack of enthusiasm is also a big sign you may be losing one or more of your employees, Taylor adds.

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There are changes in their behavior.

If they are acting differently — maybe they're suddenly keeping to themselves more and more, or they begin going out to lunch with coworkers every day — the employee(s) may be pulling away from work or commiserating with colleagues.

"If a group of team members who rarely went to lunch together before are now doing so, they may be discussing their plans to move on," says Taylor. "Seeing new behavior in who goes to lunch and how often, however, is certainly no cause for concern if other signs are not evident."

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They tell you about major changes on the home front.

If there's a major disruption in their family life, this may lead to them looking for new opportunities for a host of reasons (to be closer to home, for example, or to work in a less stressful environment), Kerr explains.

Their productivity drops.

If your employees are suddenly late getting reports in, or their sales have fallen enough that it seems unusual, something might be going on. "Any behavioral changes that point to 'presenteeism' — the phenomenon of employees showing up at work without being fully present — are huge red flags," says Kerr.

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They approach conflict differently.

When people are ready to bolt, they may change how they handle disagreements, Taylor explains. "If they tended to push back before, they may no longer do so because they don't feel it's worth the bother. They have emotionally checked out."

However, someone who was generally agreeable before may become more argumentative out of frustration or resentment, she says.

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They're uncomfortable discussing long-term projects and deadlines.

If your employees are seeking greener pastures, they will become visibly uncomfortable discussing projects that are several months out, says Taylor. "When longer-term deadlines involve them directly, they'll attempt to be noncommittal or vague."

Colleagues tell you they think something's going on.

If your coworkers approach you with concerns that something's changed or "something's going on" with a specific employee or group of people, they may be on to something.

"Other colleagues closer to the action may read the signs well before you do, so if they bring concerns forward, pay attention," says Kerr.

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They stay under the communications radar.

"If your team members are contemplating resignation, they're less likely to communicate often — by email, in person, or in general," says Taylor. "The thinking is that, to the extent they're less accessible, they won't risk being put on the spot ... answering sensitive questions that could jeopardize their job when they're not yet ready to move."

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Their schedule suddenly changes.

When they start keeping unusual hours — working later, arriving late, shifting their hours in any noticeable way — it could be because they are searching for work or interviewing with other employers while still trying to balance their current workload, says Kerr.

You inquire about possible issues, but get little feedback.

Do they seem closed off? Are they not willing to work through issues with you?

"If one of your team members or several of them already have one foot out the door, they'll act as if nothing is wrong when you address any issues," says Taylor. This may be because they have already shut down and mentally moved on.

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You have a bad gut feeling.

If you feel awkward moments in your office more often or a discomfort around your team you can't explain, this may be a sign they're about to quit. "Your instincts count for a lot and most people don't put enough stock in them; instead, they second-guess themselves."